Questions of 2017 Unification Quiz Program for High School Students

[answer] ③

【Explanation】 Vietnam was unified by consolidating South and North Vietnam to establish Vietnam Socialist Republic on July 2, 1976. Meanwhile, in 1971, Chancellor Billy Brandt was given a Nobel Peace Prize for his services of pursuing a reconciliation policy such as a Treaty of Moscow(1970), Warsaw Treaty with Poland (1970), Four-Power Agreement on Berlin(1971) and Treaty of Prague(1973).

【Unification】 5. Understanding of North Korea

1. 
   The diplomatic activities of North Korea during the cold war period was focused on the socialist countries and non-allied countries to secure its superiority over South Korea and eventually to communize the Korean Peninsula. But after the cold war, Pyongyang diversified its diplomacy giving priority to the survival of its system and promoted the improvement of the relationship with the Western bloc.
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 After the collapse and regime change of Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and during the process of the post cold war, North Korea promoted a diplomatic strategy with the ultimate goal of its system survival amid the fear of the system collapse. Pyongyang tried to diversify its diplomacy in a bid to improve relationship with the Western Bloc.

2. 
   The vote in North Korea results in 100% voting rate and 100% approval rate because the people cast yes and no for the single candidate actually nominated by the Labor Party. So the single candidate nominated by the Party is surely to be elected.
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 In July 2015, the Chosun Central News Agency of North Korea reported that 99.97% of voters participated for the election of the representatives of the People’s Congress and voted 100% in agreement. Pyongyang publicizes that the election in the North is the “most democratic in the world and the voting is conducted under equality, direct and secret vote. However, the voting is for Agree or Disagree for the single candidate nominated by the Labor Party and its voting rate and approval rate are almost 100%.

3. 
   Birthdays of Kim II Sung and Kim Jong-il are the national holidays in North Korea.
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 The birthday of Kim Il Sung is April 15th, which is called the "Day of the Sun" and the birthday of Kim Jong-il, his son, is February 16th, which is called the "Day of Bright Star", and both days are holidays in North Korea.

4. 
   The standard language of North Korea is mainly based on the Pyongyang language, which is called the “Language of Culture.”
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 North Korea published “"Joseonmal Gyubeomjip(Collection of Standards for Korean Language)” in 1966 and the language used by the workers class around Pyongyang is called the “Language of Culture,” which is a new standard language of North Korea.

5. 
   Gangwondo Province exists in North Korea as well.
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 Gangwondo Province is in the North, too, and it is the one and only province divided into two.

6. 
   In North Korea, there are license plates for bicycles as well.
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 A license is needed to ride a bicycle in North Korea and the license plate should be attached to a bicycle like a car license plate. A bicycle license system was introduced in the late 1990s around Pyongyang for the first time and it was implemented as a pilot program from 1997 and it was expanded across the country in 1999.

7. 
   North Korea is governed by one party with all the power. The party defined to lead all the activities of North Korea is the Communist Party.
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ×

【Explanation】 Realistically, only one poltical party exist in North Korea which is called the "Workers' Party of Korea." Article 11 of the North Korean constitution reads that “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea shall proceed with all the activities under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea”

8. 
   North Korea operates a subway, too.
   ○ if yes or × if wrong.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 The subway in Pyongyang operates two lines at the moment such as the Chollima Line completed in 1973, running through the south and north of the city and the Hyuckshin Line completed in 1978, running through the east and west of the city.

9. 
   North Korea has the flowers that were named after the names of their leaders, Kim II Sung and Kim Jong-il (Kim II Sung Flower and Kim Jong-il Flower).
   Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
   

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 Kim II Sung flowers and Kim Jong-il flowers are the most cultivated flower in North Korea. North Korea cultivates them in the greenhouses across the country. The flower exhibition is held on a large scale on the birthdays of the two leaders.

10. 
    There are rap singers in North Korea, too.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ×

【Explanation】 None. Rock or rap music is regarded to be of low class culture of a capitalism in North Korea and it is forbidden.

11. 
    Soccer is also very popular in North Korea. North Korea operates an international soccer school.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 Pyongyang International Soccer School opened in April 2013 on the 12,200㎡ of land, accommodating the soccer fields and other facilities.

12. 
    A dirty car is not allowed to enter Pyongyang in North Korea.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 The Road Act of North Korea added a compulsory clause about washing a car in 2011. * 2011, Road Act of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korean cannot be verified.

13. 
    Kakao Talk communication is available with a mobile phone in North Korea.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ×

【Explanation】 The Internet is strictly blocked in North Korea and only a handful of people can find information other than on North Korea.

14. 
    North Korea has a place to be taught English by native speakers.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 English is taught by native speakers in North Korea, too, such as at the Grand People’s Study House and other major institutes. North Korea requested some English speaking countries to dispatch native speakers to Pyongyang to strengthen its English education. The English Language Institute in Canada (ELIC) and the U.K. etc. dispatched their native speakers to North Korea according to its request.

15. 
    North Korean constitution defines that private possession of production means is prohibited and they are owned by a state and the social cooperative groups.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 Private possession is recognized in North Korea but it is limited to the possession of consumption purpose occurred on the basis of social possession of the production means. In other words, individuals are allowed to possess the products from a small kitchen garden and personal sideline account, income from a legal accounting activity, wage and labor income of the workers and the consumables purchased with such income but they cannot possess the production means.

16. 
    Current education system of North Korea is compulsory and free and as such not only the school fee but also text books, stationery, school uniform and other necessary articles for a school life are supplied by a state. Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ×

【Explanation】 The education system of North Korea is claimed to be compulsory and free but it is maintained just as mere formality after economic crisis. At the moment the school fee is free but the stationery, school uniform and other necessary goods for school life are purchased by the individuals. Furthermore, various expenses to operate the school including school building management, educational material, fuel, etc. are transferred to the students.

17. 
    New year’s day in North Korea is January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. Then they also celebrate lunar new year. Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ○

【Explanation】 North Koreans also celebrate lunar new year. It was abolished during Kim II Sung’s ruling for he regarded it as a vestige of a feudal society but Kim Jong-il designated January 1 in a lunar calendar as a holiday in 1989.

18. 
    North Korea has a high school. Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

[answer] ×

【Explanation】 School system of North Korea is divided into before and after school. A primary school is five years, junior middle school is three years and senior middle school is three years. The middle school which was consolidated and operated in six years was divided into three years of a junior middle school and three years of a senior middle school in 2012 according to the law defining a compulsory education for 12 years. There is no such thing as a high school in North Korea.

19. 
    The college students in North Korea wear a school uniform, too.
    Write ○ if it is correct or × if not.
    

’[answer] ○

【Explanation】 The college students in North Korea wear a school uniform, too. Male students wear a suit, while female students put on a suit or Hanbok. The college girls wear a traditional Korean skirt in black and jacket in white on important events.

20. 
    Kim II Sung built one-man ruling system in North Korea and put the ideology of a communist revolution different from other socialist countries as a new ruling ideology. And he governed all the areas of its society including politics, economy, society, culture, diplomacy and military systems. What is the ideology explained below, which was created by Kim II Sung and intensified by his son, Kim Jong-il?
    
    
    

This ideology is the self-reliance route of Kim II Sung, which affected the entire areas of North Korea such as politics, economy, society, culture, value of the people and their daily life. It started to be discussed actively from 1950s and its name was set up around 1967. In 1972 it was specified in the constitution of North Korea as a governing ideology. Emphasizing the ideology, after all, has been resulted in encouraging a personal cult for Kim II Sung

[answer] Self-reliance ideology or Juche Idea.

【Explanation】 North Korea asserted a self-reliance route and propagated its self-reliance ideology or Juche Idea. The Juche Idea of North Korea is Kim II Sung’s ideology to govern the North Koreans and it tries to build a self-reliance route and remove anti-Kim II Sung power internally in order to strengthen their one-man governing system.

21. 
    North Korea considers education as important to build a socialism system and emphasizes the ideology education for the goal of “Cultivating humans of communism.” Accordingly the elementary and secondary education curriculum of North Korea teaches the childhood, revolutionary activities and history of the three figures including Kim II Sung and Kim Jong-il. Now then who is the third person?
    

[answer] Kim Jung-sook

【Explanation】 Most important curriculum in North Korean education is political ideology, and the goal of education is to cultivate loyalty to Kim Il sung and Kim Jong-il. Accordingly the elementary and middle school students learn the idolization of Kim’s family, mainly the greatness of the three generals of Mt. Baekdu, Kim II Sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jung-sook and their childhood, revolutionary activities and history. Kim Jung-sook was the wife of Kim II Sung and mother of Kim Jong-il.

22. 
    Mt. Geumgang sightseeing started in November 1998 gathered as many as 1.96 million tourists until it was suspended in 2008 when one of the South Korean visitors was shot to death by North Korean soldiers. It has not been resumed so far because North Korea shows a lukewarm attitude in taking a measure to prevent recurrence of the same accident and guarantee the personal security of the South Korean tourists. As the resumption of sightseeing is anticipated, Mt. Geumgang is sometimes called in a different name depending on the season. What is Mt. Geumgang called in the summer?
    

[answer] Mt. Bongrae

【Explanation】 The mountain is called a different name each season such as Mt. Geumgang in spring, Mt. Bongrae in summer, Mt. Pungak in fall and Mt. Gaegol in winter.

23. 
    The famous Okryukwan Restaurant at the Daedonggang River is not only in Pyongyang but also has locations in overseas. What is the Okryukwan's signature menu that won first place at the Noodle Contest in North Korea?
    

[answer] Pyongyang cold noodle

【Explanation】 Typical menus of the Okryukwan Restaurant in Pyongyang are Pyongyang cold noodles, Pyongyang warm noodles, Daedonggang river grey mullet soup and Raw trout dish or sashimi.

24. 
    What is the title of the North Korean organization that was raised as a supreme political organization when a premier system of North Korea was abolished in 1998?
    

It is North Korea’s highest military guidance organization that was established in 1972 when its socialist constitution was enacted to decide all the important national defense programs. Its role and status has been strengthened and it was raised as a supreme military guidance organization in 1992 when the North Korean constitution was revised. Its main duty and authority is to establish an important policy of the country to implement the military first revolution, guidance of the national forces and national defense construction, enactment of military title and granting a military title of the generals. But the organization was abolished by 2016 constitution revision and instead a “State Council” was established recently.

[answer] National Defense Committee

【Explanation】 The National Defense Committee was established in 1972 when the socialism constitution was adopted and it was promoted to be a supreme military guidance agency in 1992 when its constitution was amended in order to support Kim Jong-il systematically to grip the military power of North Korea. The Committee was arranged to be an organization of the highest military guidance agency and controlling overall national defense by amending its constitution in 1998. The constitution amended in 2016 replaced the National Defense Committee with the State Council.

25. 
    We cannot find a private educational institute in North Korea. North Korean students learn a specified subject from their teachers after school such as math, foreign language, arts or sports. They are involved in a kind of club activities for 2-3 hours every day to do preparation or review, experiment, practice or drill. How do they call such activities?
    

[answer] Small group activity

【Explanation】 The small group activity of North Korea is the one like the class after school in South Korea. North Korean students learn the subjects they choose for 2-3 hours every day after school and usually the subjects they learn are math, foreign language, music and painting.

26. 
    When the economic difficulties of North Korea got worse than before and its distribution system collapsed in 1990s, a kind of black market called “Night Market” and other kind of illegal but standing market was revitalized in North Korea. Illegal trading commodities such as rice, corn and some industrial products were traded and since then such markets along with a large scale whole sale market developed as a specialized market in North Korea. What is the concept that refers to the North Korean markets of 1990s style which introduced a market phenomenon in the country?
    

[answer] Market Place, Jangmadang

【Explanation】 Entering 1990s, the planned economy system of North Korea was disturbed and its distribution system collapsed across the country. so the Jangmadang or market place where they deal with food became permanent particularly in the northern part of the country. At first a farmer’s market was expanded to get food for survival and then it was developed to be a large scale distribution market as people who maintained their livelihood by business activities accumulated business captial becoming what is called the "Money Owner."

27. 
    What is the movement described below?
    

This movement started in 1972 when Kim Jong-il appeared as an heir of Kim II Sung to perform the three revolutions of ideology, technology and culture. College graduates compulsorily participated for the movement for 2-3 years as a member of a small group. The members were sent to the production sites of each organization to teach technology to the officers and technicians to play a role of a trailblazer to build up the Kim Jong-il system as an heir to his father.

[answer] Three Revolutionary Small Group Movement

【Explanation】 The Three Revolutionary Small Group Movement started to make Kim Jong-il a successor of Kim II Sung, his father. The members of the group were the scientists, engineers, intelligent youth who got modern education and the party members with excellent loyalty.

28. 
    Kim Jong-il regime which launched officially in 1998, tried a new economic policy of allocating its national resources to the national defense industry first by amending the existing policy of keeping the national defense and economy in parallel. Now what is the name of the economic policy described below?
    

North Korea maintained its policy of keeping the national defense and economy in parallel since 1960s. But Kim Jong-il advocated a new economic policy to give priority to the military amid its economic crisis in 1990s to maintain the system and develop the economy. It was emphasized as a core keynote of the economic policy in Kim Jong-il era, which can be defined that “National defense industry should be developed first and the light industry and agriculture shall be developed simultaneously.” We can say that its previous policy of developing the heavy industry first was amended considering the serious economic crisis of Kim Jong-il era.

[answer] Policy of military first and economic construction
(Military first politics, Military first policy)

【Explanation】 Kim Jong-il regime started officially in 1998 insisted the policy of military first and economic construction in lieu of the previous policy of developing the heavy industry first. He suggested the new policy as one of the system survival strategies to preserve Kim II Sung socialism system.

29. 
    North Korean residents gather to self-examine their duties and official or private life and criticize each other regularly every week, month and quarter of a year at the organization they belong to such as a party or working group. It has become the means to seize and control the people’s daily life thoroughly even though it is trivial and routine formality. It consists of a self-criticism that repents their own wrong doing once a week and mutual criticism pointing out the errors of their colleagues. What is such gathering among the North Korean residents?
    

[answer] Total harmony of livelihood

【Explanation】 North Korean residents and workers gather together every day after the daily work to have a meeting for the total harmony of work and total harmony of livelihood once a week. They criticize themselves to repent their own wrong doing and criticize the others mutually pointing out the errors of their colleagues at the total harmony of livelihood. They should quote the teachings of Kim II Sung or the words of Kim Jong-il as a standard of criticizing themselves or others.

30. 
    What is described below?
    

It was passed unanimously at the House of Representatives on July 21, 2004 and it came into effect October 18 in the same year by the signature of President George Bush. It aims at improving the human rights of the North Korean residents, humanitarian support for them and protecting the North Korean refugees. It allows to spend US$ 24 million every year from 2005 through to 2008 to appoint a Special Envoy for the North Korean Human Rights and improve the human rights of North Korea.

[answer] North Korean Human Rights Act

【Explanation】 The North Korean Human Rights Act includes supporting the broadcasting propaganda to North Korea, human rights and democracy of North Korea, constitutionalism, allocating the budget to revitalize the program to improve a market economy and the North Korean refugees.

31. 
    What is the area described below?
    

Kim II Sung of North Korea imitated the special economic zone of China in part to overcome the economic crisis and food shortage of North Korea. North Korea proclaimed this area as a free trade and economic zone in 1991 as a part of the limited opening of the economy.

① Shineuiju ② Najin and Sunbong ③ Shinpo ④ Gaesung

[answer] ②

【Explanation】 Najin and Sunbong are located at the North East of Hamgyungbukdo Province and Pyongyang proclaimed the two cities as a free trade zone in 1991.

32. 
    What is the national flower of North Korea among the following?
    

① Mugunghwa or rose of Sharon ② Rose ③ Mulan ④ chrysanthemum

[answer] ③

【Explanation】 The mulan is also called a Magnolia sieboldii in South Korea and from May to June it comes into bloom of 7-10cm flower having 6-9 white petals, yellow pistil and purple male pistil.

33. 
    What is the theory related to the literature policy of North Korea described below?
    

This theory asserts that creating literature is not the issue of innate gift or natural talent but the product of practice. In other words, it emphasizes that the subject of creation is a crowd or group to encourage participation of the public. According to the theory, the art is created and enjoyed not by the originality or creativity of any individual but by a group.

① Theory of seed ② Theory of speed battle ③ Theory of mob art ④ Theory of independent literature